The Halloween Season Through the Ages
It’s always a sad moment when you realize you have simply outgrew a time-honored tradition; but as I get older, I have realized that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. I decided to stop trick or treating a few years ago following my 13th birthday, when my mother backhandedly commented “Don’t you think you’re too old?” as she laced up the straps of my little brother’s power rangers costume. At first, even the thought of retiring my plastic orange bucket brought on a wave of disappointment, but looking outside to the hoards of toddlers waddling past with parents in tow, I had to agree.
For millions of children across the country, the Halloween season is accompanied by a night of creative costumes and candy-hunting in the most popular neighborhoods in the city, but for those who have simply grown-out of that nostalgic activity, there are many others that can get you into the autumn spirit.
After conducting a few interviews around the Ladue community, I found many ways that celebrating this time of year has changed over the years.
Sophomore Annabella Seeger has also stopped going out for candy, but her night doesn’t end there. For the past two years, Seeger and her twin sister has been hosting parties together at their house, inviting several of their closest friends in for a night of sweet treats, horror movies, and board games in their cozy, Halloween-themed living room. Seeger comments that “There is a lot of pressure to stop trick or treating when you reach a certain age. Because of this, I decided to find new ways of hanging out with my friends. [Now], my Halloween experience has changed from preparing a costume to thinking of fun new activities to do.”
Parent Stephanie Ye hasn’t been out of the house on Halloween night since her second child grew out of trick or treating–and she’s been loving it. Although she “misses spending time with her kids, and watching them run from house to house”, Halloween is now a much more relaxing time of year where she can sit back with a mug of hot tea and a movie with some close friends rather than being outside in the chilly October night. Ye adds that she can now experience “handing out candy to the younger children in the neighborhood”, something she hasn’t done for several years.
Although growing out of an activity may be disappointing at first, any Halloween enthusiast would agree that this time of year has evolved to become more interesting and inclusive as time goes by. No matter how old you are or what holidays you choose to celebrate, fall is for cozying up with the ones you love and spending time doing things that making you happy–whether that be trick or treating, party hosting, or nothing at all.